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Brig. Gen. Ludwig Blenker (b. 1812, d. 1863). „In the first battle for the preservation of the Union at Bull Run, he commanded the reserves, and by his actions averted the destruction of the fleeing Union army and protected the national capitol”, reads his epitaph. Born in Worms, Germany, Blenker had enlisted in the Bavarian Legion and gone to Naufplio in 1832 when the 16 year old Otto from Bavaria was there made King of Greece. Blenker returned to his hometown after five years. In the Revolution of 1848 he was a prominent figure and led the democratic forces in 1849 with initial success against the troops that were sent to put the revolution down. However, when the Prussian army was victorious in Baden, Blenker had to flee to Switzerland and from there to the United States. At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 he used his fame amongst German immigrants to raise regiments for the Union in his new hometown New York. As a colonel he led the 8th New York at First Bull Run and fought the rearguard action, which is still remembered in his epitaph. For his valuable service he was promoted to brigadier general on August 9, 1861. Further recruiting enabled him to form a division made up of Germans that was named “Blenker’s division”. He was assigned to lead it and support Gen. John C. Frémont in western Virginia in April 1862. On its way, the division was surprised by snow. As it lacked the necessary equipment and supply it lived from the land. This was called “Blenkered” for the rest of the war and enraged the Southerners at the time being. With the help of Gen. William Rosecrans the division finally reached Frémont. Blenker was nominally in command of it during the Battle of Cross Keys on June 8 when the Union attack was repulsed with heavy losses by the outnumbered Confederates. But as Blenker was passed over in the chain of command and ignored by Frémont, he resigned after the battle. Some sources say that he was relieved of command, but it is more likely that he resigned, as charges were never pressed against him and he was discharged from the army with all honours in May, 1863. Blenker died in October of the same year from injuries contracted through the fall from a horse. His grave can be found in Rockland Cemetery, Rockland County, New York.

Ldr: 3
Tact: 2
Init: 1
Cmd: 2
Cav: 0

Teaches: random

In the US, Blenker was often called Louis instead of Ludwig. It is the same with Weitzel (Godfrey, Gottfried). I have used the German names but I do not know your general politic on this issue.
Another thing is the rank. Blenker was probably brigadier general of volunteers. Do you want to have it in every Union general's bio whether it was regular or volunteer rank?

P.S. The bio may be shortened by deleting the quote or the Greece episode. But wouldn't it be nice to have Naufplio included?

Thanks. Seems like there's no need to shorten the bio.

Here's Blenker, ready to go once one or two things are cleared up. (There was no need to shorten it.)

Regarding the issue of rank, it's good to say whether a general was regular or of volunteers, though not a requirement. If you don't know for sure it's best to leave it out -- most readers probably won't care.

By the way, I figured that he should teach "Foragers" based on this business of "Blenkered."


Brig. Gen. Ludwig (or “Louis”) Blenker (b. 1812, d. 1863). “In the first battle for the preservation of the Union at Bull Run, he commanded the reserves, and by his actions averted the destruction of the fleeing Union army and protected the national capitol” reads Blenker’s epitaph. Born in Worms, Germany, Blenker had enlisted in the Bavarian Legion and gone to Naufplio, Greece in 1832 when the sixteen-year-old Otto from Bavaria was made King of Greece there. Blenker returned to his hometown after five years. In the Revolution of 1848 he was a prominent figure and led the democratic forces in 1849 with initial success against the troops that were sent to put down the revolution. However, when the Prussian army was victorious in Baden, Blenker had to flee to Switzerland and from there to the United States. At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 he used his fame among German immigrants to raise regiments for the Union in his new hometown of New York. (Was he actually living in New York City, or somewhere else in New York?) As a colonel he led the 8th New York at First Bull Run and fought the rearguard action commemorated by his epitaph. For his valuable service in the war’s first major battle he was promoted to brigadier general on August 9, 1861. Further recruiting enabled him to form a division made up of Germans that was named “Blenker’s Division,” which he was assigned to lead. Heading to western Virginia to support Gen. John C. Fremont in April 1862, the division was surprised by snow. (I rewrote the previous two sentences. Is the way it’s currently phrased okay?) As it lacked the necessary equipment and supplies it lived off the land. This was called “Blenkered” for the rest of the war and enraged the Southerners at the time being. (I don’t get this. What does “Blenkered” mean? Did “being Blenkered” mean that an area had a Union army gathering supplies there? Did this term spread beyond that part of Virginia, so that the Georgians and South Carolinians were being Blenkered by Sherman? Please explain.) With the help of Gen. William S. Rosecrans the division finally reached Fremont (After how much time? Days? Weeks?). Blenker was nominally in command of his division during the Battle of Cross Keys on June 8 when the Union attack was repulsed by the outnumbered Confederates with heavy losses, but as Blenker had been passed over in the chain of command and ignored by Fremont, he resigned after the battle. Some sources say that he was relieved of command, but it is more likely that he resigned, as charges were never pressed against him and he was discharged from the army with all honors in May 1863. Blenker died in October of the same year from injuries contracted through the fall from a horse. His grave can be found in Rockland Cemetery, Rockland County, New York. (Bio by Joern Kaesebier)

Ldr: 3
Tact: 2
Init: 1
Cmd: 2
Cav: 0

Teaches: Foragers

Start date: 14
“Death” date: 35

- Blenker had a business in New York City, but bought a farm in Pennsylvania prior to the war
- "The term "Blenkered" was thereafter applied to any goods appropriated to maintain the army in the field, whether that appropriation was justified or not." That is the definition I found, I had not heard about it before.
- the division needed more than one month to reach Fremont (starting April 6, reached him on May 11)
- maybe we could add that the ambitious Blenker and his staff were known for their pomp

Thanks. I made some changes. Let me know if they work for you. (I couldn't figure out where to mention the pomp, though.)


Brig. Gen. Ludwig (“Louis”) Blenker (b. 1812, d. 1863). “In the first battle for the preservation of the Union at Bull Run, he commanded the reserves, and by his actions averted the destruction of the fleeing Union army and protected the national capitol” reads Blenker’s epitaph. Born in Worms, Germany, Blenker had enlisted in the Bavarian Legion and gone to Naufplio, Greece in 1832 when the sixteen-year-old Otto from Bavaria was made King of Greece there. Blenker returned to his hometown after five years. In the Revolution of 1848 he was a prominent figure and led the democratic forces in 1849 with initial success against the troops that were sent to put down the revolution. However, when the Prussian army was victorious in Baden, Blenker had to flee to Switzerland and from there to the United States. At the outbreak of the Civil War in 1861 he used his fame among German immigrants to raise regiments for the Union in New York City, where he ran a business. As a colonel he led the 8th New York at First Bull Run and fought the rearguard action commemorated by his epitaph. For his valuable service in the war’s first major battle he was promoted to brigadier general on August 9, 1861. Further recruiting enabled him to form a division made up of Germans that was named “Blenker’s Division,” which he was assigned to lead. Heading to western Virginia to support Gen. John C. Fremont in April 1862, the division was surprised by snow. As it lacked the necessary equipment and supplies Blenker’s Division lived off the land – or, more accurately, off the people who lived on the land. This enraged the Southerners who had been “Blenkered,” as the practice of appropriating goods for an army’s consumption came to be called. With the help of Gen. William S. Rosecrans the division finally reached Fremont on May 11, more than a month after their April 6 departure. Blenker was nominally in command of his division during the Battle of Cross Keys on June 8 when the Union attack was repulsed by the outnumbered Confederates with heavy losses, but as Blenker had been passed over in the chain of command and ignored by Fremont, he resigned after the battle. Some sources say that he was relieved of command, but it is more likely that he resigned, as charges were never pressed against him and he was discharged from the army with all honors in May 1863. Blenker died in October of the same year from injuries contracted through the fall from a horse. His grave can be found in Rockland Cemetery, Rockland County, New York. (Bio by Joern Kaesebier)

Fine with me. I might be able to include the pomp when doing Max Weber, who did not like Blenker and did not want to serve under him.

Okay. We're good to go, then. Thanks.